Australia’s largest telco Telstra might be the biggest name in the nation when it comes to mobile — but if you’re thinking of cheap phone plans, the company might not be what comes to mind.
However, there’s good reason as to why you’d look to Telstra for a phone plan, especially if you’re living in a regional or remote area, as the Telstra network is the largest in Australia. Telstra was also the first provider to launch its 5G mobile network, which is continually expanding — so if you’re keen to hop on the Telstra 5G network, you will need a compatible plan.
Let’s take a look at the cheapest plans from Telstra, and see what you can get for your money.
Prepaid offers you might like
The following table shows a selection of sponsored SIM Only plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $17.50) SIM Only Prepaid
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50GB Data/month |
$17.50 Cost/month |
Go to site |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $17.50) SIM Only Prepaid
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50GB Data/month |
$17.50 Cost/month |
Go to site |
1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $10) SIM Only Prepaid
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25GB Data/month |
$10.00 Cost/month |
Go to site |
What is the cheapest phone plan from Telstra?
Telstra might not be the cheapest provider out there, but you will get plenty of added value on your plan. If you’re looking at Telstra for your phone plan, you’ll be able to choose from postpaid and prepaid options, with new phones also able to be bundled with a postpaid plan.
The cheapest Telstra postpaid plan is $65 per month with 50GB of full-speed data on a month-to-month plan. Once you use all your high-speed data, you’ll be able to access unlimited backup data at the capped speed of 1.5Mbps. You’ll also get access to some international call and SMS inclusions. Telstra’s postpaid phone plans all include unlimited standard national calls and SMS. This plan includes access to the Telstra 5G network.
If you need more fast-speed data, you’ll be paying $75 per month for 180GB. Both of these options can also be paired to any phone payment plan, with latest devices including the Samsung Galaxy range and the Apple iPhone series.
As for prepaid plans, while the $12 plan with 3GB of data is technically the cheapest, it runs on a seven-day expiry. If you want a longer term option, the $35 plan includes 15GB of data on a 28-day expiry. All of these prepaid plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS, plus data banking of up to 200GB when you recharge before expiry.
The following table shows the two cheapest Telstra postpaid SIM-only plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows the two cheapest Telstra 24-month 128GB iPhone 13 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows the two cheapest Telstra prepaid SIM-only plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers.
How does Telstra compare to Optus and Vodafone?
While Telstra is the largest telco in Australia, both Optus and Vodafone are hot on its heels when it comes to mobile network coverage. So, just how do Telstra’s plans compare to Optus and Vodafone? Let’s compare the cheapest plans from each of the three telcos across prepaid, postpaid and phone on a plan options.
The following table shows the cheapest Telstra, Optus and Vodafone postpaid SIM-only plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows the cheapest Telstra, Optus and Vodafone 24-month 128GB iPhone 16 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
The following table shows the cheapest Telstra, Optus and Vodafone prepaid SIM-only plans over a 28-day expiry on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard expiry period cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest, then alphabetically. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
Cheapest prepaid and postpaid phone plans
If the above mentioned plans from Telstra don’t quite cut it, there are plenty of cheaper plans out there from smaller telcos including Moose Mobile, Everyday Mobile, Boost Mobile, Southern Phone and Amaysim. Some plans can cost around $10 per month, and you can generally find some decent data inclusions in that $20 to $40 price range.
Prepaid Plans Under $40
Here is a selection of prepaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database for $40 or less, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by standard data allowance, largest to smallest. If you want to see a wider range of plans from other providers our phone plan comparison tool can help. This table includes products with links to referral partners.
Postpaid Plans Under $40
Here is a selection of postpaid plans from Canstar Blue’s database for $40 or less, listed in order of standard cost, lowest to highest, then by standard data allowance, largest to smallest. If you want to see a wider range of plans from other providers our phone plan comparison tool can help. This table includes products with links to referral partners.
Which cheap phone plan is right for me?
This does of course depend on what your needs are. If you already have plans and services with Telstra, it is definitely worth looking into any discounts you might receive if you bundle services as an existing customer. Telstra also packs in some extra value on phone plans, so keep this in mind if these are perks you know you’ll use. If you have a really tight budget for your phone plan, it is definitely worth comparing options from a range of providers to find a plan that might fit your budget.
While there are plenty of cheap phone plans out there, be mindful of what is included. Some cheap plans might not include unlimited calls and the data inclusions are generally around the 1GB mark. If you’re a moderate phone user, you might need a plan with around 10GB of data, whereas if you do a lot of video streaming, you’ll definitely need a bit more. Telstra’s inclusion of unlimited capped-speed data is also a huge plus, as the smaller telcos will generally charge excess data charges for any use over your monthly data allowance.
Consider what your needs are and what your budget is, and do some research before you decide. You can use our free phone plan comparison tool to help you compare plans from a range of providers across data allowances and price.
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